First Half-Life 2: Ep 3 picture surfaces

The first picture of Half-Life 2: Episode 3 has surfaced on the Internet.

The artwork shows what appears to be Gordon facing the giant robot face of an Advisor from Episode 2 - and Episode 1 if you look closely. Freeman faces it heroically with a crowbar on the edge of a sheer, cavernous drop.

It appears as part of a collection on Into the Pixel (spotted by Kotaku) of some of the best drawings from videogames this year.

The entry, titled simply "Half Life EP3", is listed for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.

Its arrival adds mounting evidence to suggestions that Valve will be showing the third and final episode at E3, although the developer has only organised viewings for Left 4 Dead. We'll be talking to Gabe Newell next week, though, and be bringing you his thoughts as soon as we can write them.